Preston residents have say on city's future

Residents of a Lancashire city are being asked to have their say on how it should develop over the next 14 years.

Preston City Council is putting together a new city centre plan, which will shape the way it looks in 2026.

One of the options for consideration is simplifying the planning process to encourage businesses to take over empty shops in the city centre.

Officials also suggest bringing more families into the city with a cinema or bowling and late night shopping.

'Challenging economic times'

Councillor John Swindells, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: "This plan will include new policies and allocations to guide the future development of the city centre in challenging economic times.

"The city council has undergone various stages of consultation on the city centre in the last few years which have given us a flavour of the big issues and people's views towards them.

"Before we press ahead with firm plans for the city centre we want to give people another chance to have their say."

A public consultation takes place until 19 December.

Some preferred options will be drawn up by Spring 2013, with another public consultation on the final version of the plan taking place at the end of 2013.

The plans will then be checked by the government and, if approved, it will be adopted at the end of 2014.